Live Insurance News

Health insurance bill passed to open Kansas market

April 8, 2013April 30, 2013

The House was struggling with the bill that would permit insurers to sell very basic coverage in the state. On the last day of the regular session in Kansas, the House dedicated hours to debates, re-considerations and the pushing back of a bill, which was finally passed in order to allow the state to add bare bones health insurance policies to its market. The purpose of the bill is to help to make the coverage more affordable than what is currently out there. Senate Bill 163, which has been nicknamed…

Health insurance changes in Kansas may include more Medicaid

March 8, 2013April 30, 2013

The Commissioner is hoping to broaden the program, though there will be many challenges ahead. Sandy Praeger, the Commissioner in Kansas, announced this week that she believes that the state should broaden its health insurance availability by taking part in the federal expansion of the eligibility for Medicaid. Praeger said that by failing to expand Medicaid eligibility, the residents of the state will suffer. The Commissioner announced that she feels that residents requiring medical care will be hurt by failing to expand their access to Medicaid health insurance coverage. She…

Kansas must take action on health insurance benefits before it’s too late

September 13, 2012 S.Vagus

Insurance Commissioner Praeger on Health Insurance

Insurance Commissioner Praeger urges action on health insurance benefits Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger claims that the state must take decisive action on the health insurance benefits it will provide consumers per the Affordable Care Act. States have until October to inform the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) what the minimum benefits residents can receive through policies sold through health insurance exchanges. If states cannot meet the deadline, the HHS will determine the minimum level of benefits available to consumers, which may not be suitable for everyone. State…

Health insurance rates in Kansas to increase by 10 percent or more

August 2, 2012April 30, 2013

The state is tightening its reviews of the increasing costs. Kansas regulators are currently complying with one of the health insurance reforms put into place by President Obama, which require that stricter reviews be made of increases to rates that are greater than 10 percent. Governor Sam Brownback continues to stand strong against the other provisions of the healthcare law. To make sure that health insurance rates are kept under better control, the Kansas Department of Insurance has increased the number of steps that are taken in the review process…

Kansas health insurance regulators begin reviewing rate increase proposals

August 1, 2012July 31, 2012 Nordstrom

Kansas Health insurance officials to comply with federal law Kansas insurance regulators have begun reviewing rate increase proposals coming from the state’s insurance companies that are 10% or higher. This is a new practice from state regulators, who had traditionally only reviewed rate proposals that exceeded 12%. The change comes due to requirements imposed by the federal government through the establishment of the Affordable Care Act. According to the health care law, insurance regulators in each state are required to review rate increase proposals that seek to raise rates on…